Past Exhibitions
© Lucienne Day
Very Sanderson - 150 years of English decoration
19 March 2010 - 13 June 2010
Sanderson was founded by Arthur Sanderson in 1860 and for the last 150 years has been at the forefront of English decoration - producing the first coordinated collection of mass-produced wallpapers and fabrics in Britain. It also introduced a number of important technical innovations as well as developing a range of textiles and wallpapers by influential designers and Britain's first 'infinite' range of colours in household paints.
During its illustrious history the company has amassed a huge collection of wallpapers and textiles representing the many changing faces and fads of interior decoration. Celebrating 150 years of the company this exhibition highlights the best of its archive as well as brand new collections. Full of surprises, it will fascinate and inform those whose tastes run from the Arts & Crafts style, jazzy Moderne, fifties' Festival designs and Pop patterns, to decidedly contemporary art and decor.
Image: Lucienne Day
© Pineapple
30 years of Pineapple by Debbie Moore
18 January 2010 - 24 February 2010
Debbie Moore, a famous model of the 60s, founded Pineapple Dance Studios in 1979 in London’s Covent Garden. Recognising a need for an accessible, affordable dance space, Moore soon found herself with a highly successful business. Debbie also noticed another gap in the market. Dancewear available at the time was Nylon Lycra and shiny performance wear. With this in mind, Moore approached DuPont in 1979 to develop a fabric that would change the way people dressed: cotton Lycra.
Among the looks created by Debbie Moore for the Pineapple label include the Body (pre-Donna Karan), the legging and the Boyfriend sweatshirt. She also designed the first range of cotton Lycra dresses; simple shapes in a fitted, easy-to-wear fabric that were unlike anything available to consumers at the time. The result was electric, influencing the fashion industry across the board as the progenitor of the “Body-Con” style. All of these designs have helped define the styles of their respective decades.
In recognition of 30 years of Pineapple, the Fashion and Textile Museum is showcasing key pieces from the Pineapple archives in the foyer gallery.
The showcase and supporting event programme are kindly supported by ASOS.com.
© Foale and Tuffin
Foale and Tuffin - Made in England
23 October 2009 - 24 February 2010
From October 2009 the Fashion and Textile Museum staged a retrospective exhibition of Foale and Tuffin - two influential designers who were at the heart of the cultural explosion in London in the sixties. The Foale and Tuffin label was what cool girls wore - colourful, pop-inspired mini-dresses and trend-setting trouser suits were just some of the key pieces that were ahead of their time in developing popular, desirable fashion.
Foale and Tuffin - Made in England presented a vibrant and inspiring representation of two key British fashion designers of the 1960s and the part they played in creating the changing London scene. It revisited the Sixties vibe by recreating their boutique, showroom and design studio and charting the very personal story of two women who set up on their own with just a lot of courage and £200 in their pockets!
Undercover: The Evolution of Underwear
12 June 2009 - 27 September 2009
The FTM’s exciting new exhibition Undercover traces the evolution of underwear from health garment, shape definer to fashion ‘must have’. It explores a number of themes such as boudoir to everyday glamour – ‘Stars and their bras’ looking at celebrity branding; research and innovation’s impact on the types of underwear we wear; and how the changing face of underwear advertising and marketing meshes with social and cultural changes.
The exhibition presents a visual demonstration of how female underwear has evolved as women’s role in society changed. It encompasses the changing trends from the ‘flatten it’ to the ‘push it up’ to the ‘let it all hang out’! Undercover contains some exquisite pieces from a wide range of private and public collections that read like the Who’s Who of underwear; M&S, Triumph, La Perla, Christian Dior, Elle Macpherson, Myla and Wonderbra – to name just a few.
From the risqué to the radical, pieces include an original Merry Widow corset inspired by Lana Turner in the film of the same name; renowned burlesque artiste Immodesty Blaize’s corset; a spectacular gown made from bras and briefs by designers Vin & Omi and a La Perla bra encrusted with Swarovski crystals.
This is one not to be missed!
© Peter Farago
Swedish Fashion: Exploring A New Identity
6 February 2009 - 17 May 2009
This new exhibition showcases a new wave of Swedish design talent, with the work of thirteen fashion and jewellery designers who challenge the stereotypical picture of Swedish fashion as blonde, functional and minimal.
Since the late 1990s there has been a growing sense of a new guard emerging - putting the country on the map with a burgeoning number of fashion labels and designers.
Created by the Swedish Institute and specially enhanced and adapted for the FTM, this exhibition showcases the bold, the avant-garde and the surprising.
In addition to Swedish fashion, the FTM is also showcasing a number of new Swedish jewellery designers in The Dreamer and the Dream - New Swedish Jewellery.
© British Vogue August 1976 - David Bailey
Billy: Bill Gibb's Moment in Time
24 October 2008 - 18 January 2009
The Fashion and Textile Museum presents a retrospective of the work of one of the most creative designers of 20th Century London fashion.
A contemporary of Ossie Clark, Biba's Barbara Hulanicki and Zandra Rhodes, Bill Gibb created beauty and fantasy in 70s fashion. His extreme imagination on paper was translated into garments of an haute couture level. Gibb's signature was gowns of romantic and historical inspiration textured with print, pattern, embroidery, beadwork and leather. With Kaffe Fassett he elevated knitwear to an art form.
© Bellville Sassoon Lorcan Mullany
Little Black Dress
20 June 2008 - 25 August 2008
From 20th June – 25th August 2008, the Fashion and Textile Museum celebrates an icon of modern dressing – the Little Black Dress. This exciting exhibition traces the advent of this wardrobe staple, from its inception in the 1920s to today’s cutting edge creations.
© Fashion and Textile Museum
Peacocks and Pinstripes
8 February 2008 - 31 May 2008
Peacocks and Pinstripes - A Snapshot of Masculine Style
The Fashion and Textile Museum, in collaboration with Getty Images Gallery,is hosting a brand new photographic exhibition:
Peacocks and Pinstripes - A Snapshot of Masculine Style.
i-Dentity: 25 years of i-D
1 January 2005 - 31 December 2005
A multisensory exhibit celebrating the 25th anniversary of the trend-setting style magazine i-D.
Zandra Rhodes: A Lifelong Love Affair with Textiles
1 June 2004 - 31 December 2004
A major monographic exhibition exploring the 40 year career of iconic British Designer and FTM founder, Zandra Rhodes.
Sampling the 70s
1 January 2004 - 1 June 2004
An exhibition highlighting the FTM's permanent collection, with designs by Jean Muir, Biba, Laura Ashley, Jean Varon, and Thea Porter among them.
My Favourite Dress
1 January 2003 - 31 December 2003
An exhibition highlighting the FTM's permanent collection, with designs by Jean Muir, Biba, Laura Ashley, Jean Varon, and Thea Porter among them.
